Chapter 69: The Obligatory Epilogue:
Just one month after Eggman's final scheme had been singlehandedly thwarted by Sonic, the household's excitement over Sonic's victory still had not waned, and they continued to bring it up each day, though not without the occasional minor scrutiny over how Sonic had lost a full year of his life in order to defeat the doctor. By this time, it was Christmas morning. Sonic Jr. was excitedly walking through the hallways, almost unable to contain his hype for the imminent gift-opening session in the living room. As he was prancing about, he saw Knuckles in the kitchen, preparing Christmas dinner with the help of Tails.
"Hey, Junior! Do you mind going to get your parents? We're almost ready to head to the living room." Knuckles said.
"Okay, sure!" Junior replied, now fully capable of speech.
After the young hedgehog left, Knuckles turned to Tails, who was removing what appeared to be a casserole out of the oven with his oven-mitt-covered tails while spooning gravy all over the turducken.
"Do you really need to make that damn thing every single year?!" Knuckles asked irritatedly, "You know you're the only one here who eats it, and Cream's at her dad's house this year, so there's no one to help you finish it!"
"Well hey, it just isn't Christmas without fruitcake!" Tails replied nonchalantly.
Junior, meanwhile, made his way to Sonic and Amy's room, where he could hear them vocalizing.
"Ohhhh yeah, Sonic! Faster! FASTER!" Amy exclaimed.
"Heh heh heh! I know you've been dying for this! I can feel your heart-beat shaking the bed!" Sonic replied.
Despite being old enough to speak, Junior still lacked a considerable amount of common-sense, and slipped into the door, prompting both of his parents to give a yell of "OH SHIT!"
"J-Junior? Wh-what are are you doing in here?" Sonic asked cautiously.
"Nothing. Knuckles told me to come get you guys. He says to stop what you're doing and come to the living room so we can open presents!" Junior replied honestly, "...But, um, if you don't mind me asking, what are you two doing?"
"N-Nothing at all!" Amy replied.
"Are you guys eating sandwiches in bed? I thought you said food wasn't allowed in the bedroom." Junior kept pushing.
"Not even close." Sonic replied.
"Then...why does Mom have mayonnaise around her mouth?" Junior asked.
Both parents were speechless.
"Eh, just forget it! Go to the living-room! We'll be there soon!" Sonic replied.
"Okay. Hurry up!" Junior demanded.
Both parents gave a sigh of relief as their son finally left the room. Within another ten minutes, everyone had gathered in the living-room, sitting on the rug and couch as they began unwrapping presents.
"Rouge, this one's for you." Shadow said.
Rouge wordlessly handed her blanketed bundle over to Shadow's lap and took the present in her own, immediately proceeding to unwrap it, only to reveal two large packages of lace lingerie.
"Ugh, again?! Who keeps sending me these?! Everyone knows going commando is all the rage these days!" She said in disgust, "And how did they know my exact size too?! That's so creepy!"
"It was your turn this year, wasn't it?" Amy muttered to Blaze.
"Yup. And I even picked out granny-panties just to piss her off even more!" Blaze muttered back as she tried her hardest to stifle a laugh.
"Whoa! A hydraulic quill-sharpener?! Thanks a lot, Tails!" Sonic exclaimed, affectionately hugging his best friend as he stood by his large, metallic present with several holes in its front, "It almost makes up for last year when you gave me that chili-dog-kit, even though we both know that I can make them ten times better without it."
Tails blushed with a hand behind his head.
"Oh boy...it's a...sweater?" Silver said, trying and ultimately failing to hide his disappointment.
"Do you like it?" Blaze asked calmly.
"D'aww, what the hell? It doesn't matter what the gift is, it's who it came from that matters most!" Silver replied after a brief pause, slipping on his dark-gray sweater before hugging his fiancé.
"Hey! Watch that language, Silver!" Amy warned, in the midst of opening another gift.
After a few seconds, Silver stood up and proceeded to walk behind the couch.
"Regardless of what you got me, I made sure to get you something extra special, Blaze." He said, "I'll just be a second!"
Blaze nodded, before immediately becoming distracted by several gifts that were tossed her way.
"D'awww, look at these!" Rouge exclaimed, holding up a pair of salmon-pink baby-socks, "Oh, I'm sure she'll love them! Thanks Knuckles!"
"Well I just knew you'd be asking us to help take care of your kid, so I figured I'd pitch in early." Knuckles replied.
"How sweet." Rouge calmly replied, before proceeding to wave the socks above the blanket-wrapped bundle in her lap, "You see these? You see what Uncle Knuckles gave you? Huh?"
Without warning, the entire rack that was holding all of the stockings fell off the fireplace, causing some of the gifts within them to spill out. Every gasped as they made an impact with the floor, though once it subsided, Junior did not hesitate to crawl over and begin rummaging through his own stocking. Blaze scooted over to her own stocking, noting how stretched-out and baggy it was. She lightly prodded it, before Silver poked his head out, startling her.
"SURPRISE!" He yelled.
"Umm...I thought you were going to get my present." Blaze replied.
"What are you talking about? This is your present! ME!" Silver replied.
Blaze said nothing in response.
"What?! But I thought you said you wanted me in your stockings!" Silver said dumbfounded.
Everyone in the household let out a hearty laugh.
Meanwhile, back on the hill that had been permanently damaged by the remains of the Death Egg Mk. III, a pair of arms covered in black sleeves could be seen peeking out from below a large chunk of wreckage, the hands at the end covered in white gloves covered in dried bloodstains and mud, with the fingers limply spread outwards. A black-booted leg could be seen approaching the scene.
~ ~ ~ The End ~ ~ ~